Port Adelaide wins SACA Premier Cricket Twenty20 Cup grand final over East Torrens
A heroic batting performance has inspired Port Adelaide to claim the Premier Cricket T20 Cup in a memorable grand final win over East Torrens.
Local Sport
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Port Adelaide grand final hero Shane Chatto has praised his “special” club after it claimed its first Premier Cricket Twenty20 Cup in more than a decade on Sunday night.
The Magpies were inspired by a blistering 45 not out off 20 balls by Chatto – batting on one leg – as they defeated East Torrens by seven runs at Karen Rolton Oval.
Coming in at 5/83, Chatto pulled his hamstring in the 17th over but the veteran powered on to hit two sixes and five fours in a heroic effort to help Port post 7/159.
Ryan King (46 runs) and Jake Lehmann (44) then looked to have East Torrens in a commanding position to complete the chase with a 74-run second-wicket stand.
But an even Magpies bowling performance – led by 3/18 from Nick Benton and 3/35 from Mitch McDonald – and some handy work in the field saw the Reds all out for 152.
It was Port’s second T20 title after first claiming the premiership in 2008/9.
Chatto, who is originally from Darwin and joined the club 18 years ago, said the triumph meant a great deal to the Magpies.
“For our cricket club to come out and do what we did, it’s pretty special,” Chatto said.
“As a club we’ve been in the gun a few times but we keep showing up and keep winning these sort of premierships.
“Since I’ve been here, we’ve won five titles. We’re a special cricket club and this is a really good cricket side.
“Backs against the wall Port Adelaide Cricket Club gets on top in the big moments and we did that again.”
Port downed Kensington in the semi-final earlier in the day to book a spot in the decider against the Reds, who took care of reigning premier Adelaide University in the other semi-final.
Chatto said the Magpies had confidence after making the top four they had what it took to beat any opposition come the pointy end of the competition.
But he did not plan for an ill-timed injury.
“It was the end of the 17th over and I hit one, went to push back for two and pulled my hamstring,” he said.
“So from then on it was just pin the ears back and see if I get away with a couple.
“I was lucky a couple of fortunate shots went for four and I got a hold of a couple late to get us a good total.”
Chatto had strong help from William Forster (34 off 35 balls) and Redbacks-listed spinner Joe Medew-Ewen (20 off eight) in the crucial final overs which pushed Port to the winning total.
The result turned the tables on the 2018/19 grand final where East Torrens defeated the Magpies in a high-scoring thriller.
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